Computers

Scientists have developed a lung-on-chip model to study how the body responds to early tuberculosis (TB) infection, according to findings published today in eLife. TB is a disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) and most often affects the lungs. The model reveals that respiratory system cells, called alveolar epithelial cells, play an … [Read more...] about Lung-on-chip provides new insight on body’s response to early tuberculosis infection

Magic squares belong to the imagination of humanity for a long time. The oldest known magic square comes from China and is over 2000 years old. One of the most famous magic squares can be found in Albrecht Dürer's copper engraving Melencolia I. Another one is on the facade of the Sagrada Família in Barcelona. A magic square is a square of numbers such that every column and … [Read more...] about Quantum magic squares: Quantum magic squares cannot be as easily characterized as their ‘classical’ cousins

Researchers from Boston University and University of Virginia published a new paper in the Journal of Marketing that examines how consumers respond to AI recommenders when focused on the functional and practical aspects of a product (its utilitarian value) versus the experiential and sensory aspects of a product (its hedonic value). The study, forthcoming in the the Journal of … [Read more...] about When consumers trust AI recommendations, or resist them

Multimaterial fibers that integrate metal, glass and semiconductors could be useful for applications such as biomedicine, smart textiles and robotics. But because the fibers are composed of the same materials along their lengths, it is difficult to position functional elements, such as electrodes or sensors, at specific locations. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Central … [Read more...] about Patterning method could pave the way for new fiber-based devices, smart textiles

Modern microscopes used for biological imaging are expensive, are located in specialized laboratories and require highly qualified staff. To research novel, creative approaches to address urgent scientific issues -- for example in the fight against infectious diseases such as Covid-19 -- is thus primarily reserved for scientists at well-equipped research institutions in rich … [Read more...] about A microscope for everyone: Researchers develop open-source optical toolbox: The open-source system from the 3D printer delivers high-resolution images like commercial microscopes at hundreds of times the price

People borrowing money for the first time should only be given small amounts until they have proved their competence, a new study says. The paper argues that new borrowers -- especially young people and those of an "impulsive" disposition -- need protection to prevent them falling into long-term debt. It says lenders should have a duty of care, requiring them to consider age, … [Read more...] about How much should first-time borrowers borrow?

Researchers are a step closer to realizing a new kind of memory that works according to the principles of spintronics which is analogous to, but different from, electronics. Their unique gallium arsenide-based ferromagnetic semiconductor can act as memory by quickly switching its magnetic state in the presence of an induced current at low power. Previously, such current-induced … [Read more...] about Lower current leads to highly efficient memory: Memory based on the physics of spintronics could offer high speeds at low power

General smartphone usage is a poor predictor of anxiety, depression or stress say researchers, who advise caution when it comes to digital detoxes. The study published in Technology, Mind, and Behavior was led by Heather Shaw and Kristoffer Geyer from Lancaster University with Dr David Ellis and Dr Brittany Davidson from the University of Bath and Dr Fenja Ziegler and Alice … [Read more...] about Why spending a long time on your phone isn’t bad for mental health

Researchers from the Centre for Audio, Acoustics and Vibration at the University of Technology Sydney are exploring technology for those wanting a quieter life! Reporting in the journal Scientific Reports (a Nature Springer publication), the team of Tong Xiao, Xiaojun Qiu and Benjamin Halkon highlight the positive impacts for health and wellbeing of their 'virtual Active Noise … [Read more...] about Headset over earphone: Cancelling out unnecessary and unwanted noise

So, you need a robot that climbs stairs. What shape should that robot be? Should it have two legs, like a person? Or six, like an ant? Choosing the right shape will be vital for your robot's ability to traverse a particular terrain. And it's impossible to build and test every potential form. But now an MIT-developed system makes it possible to simulate them and determine which … [Read more...] about Computer-aided creativity in robot design: Researchers’ new system optimizes the shape of robots for traversing various terrain types